2026 Holiday Reading Challenge | The Running Bibliophile

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Who doesn’t love a good challenge, especially when it pushes you to read outside your comfort zone or discover a new author? I’ve always wanted to join a reading challenge or reading bingo, but so many of them feel repetitive. So, I decided to create something a little different. It doesn’t mean a challenge like this isn’t out there; I just haven’t come across one myself. Introducing The Running Bibliophile’s 2026 Holiday Reading Challenge, a fun and unique way to expand your reading list while celebrating the spirit of the year. This challenge features 14 books of your choice, with one key twist: each book’s plot must revolve around the specific holiday mentioned. The challenge runs for January 1 through January 31, 2026. To keep things exciting, you may not duplicate any books on the list. By the time you've completed the challenge, you will have read 14 new books to diversify your reading list. To kick things off, the first prompt is simple: choose any holiday-themed book as l...
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Book Review: Never Say Pie (Lexy Baker, #14) by Leighann Dobbs

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Book Review Never Say Pie Lexy Baker #14 by Leighann Dobbs

Never Say Pie (Lexy Baker, 14) by Leighann Dobbs opens with Lexy Baker catering a dinner and pie eating contest at her grandmother's retirement community.  When one of the residents is found face down in one of Lexy's pies for the pie eating contest, Lexy, Nans, and the rest of the gang take matters into their own hands to solve the case.

This edition in the Lexy Baker book series is written better than some of the books in the series.  Although I figured out who the killer was right off the bat, I couldn't figure out what the motive was, even though there were clues right in front of my face.  Leighann Dobbs did a great job with adding red herrings to the storyline because at one point I did second guess myself.

Since I was in a bit of a rut when it came to reading, Never Say Pie was the perfect book to help me start reading again because it was a fun, entertaining read.  Although, having a writer, who writes books about a baker that solves murders, was a little kitschy.  That aside, it was nice to revisit this series as I generally knew what to expect with this series, and it's nice to read a mystery book that isn't too gory.

All in all, I immensely enjoyed Never Say Pie (Lexy Baker, #14) by Leighann Dobbs.  I gave this book four out of five stars.  This is a perfect book, and series, if you enjoy reading books by authors Leslie Meier, Joanne Fluke, and Lee Hollis.

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